Talensi: DCE promises to revisit issues of unpaid compensation to families of 16 dead miners
The Talensi District Chief Executive (DCE) Thomas Duanab Wuni has promised to revisit issues surrounding the unpaid compensation to the families of 16 dead miners. Apexnewsgh.com report On Wednesday, January 23, 2019, some young youth numbering 16 from the Talensi community in the Upper East Region met their untimely death whereas others numbering over 15 went unconscious and was rushed to the hospital and after few days of going through a thorough medical treatment with the assistance of the Health workers at the Regional Hospital, Only a few recovered from the explosion. The majority of these lost lives were noted by friends, family, and community members as breadwinners, this simply means, these individuals carry their family responsibilities on their heads all alone, and they are the only source of happiness for their dependents. Is over 5 years down the lane since after the tragic incident occurred but, the question begging for answers is, what has been the situation for the families of these known breadwinners who regrettably lost their lives as a result of the negligence of a mining company and an individual according to the Mineral Commission Reports? Apexnewsgh.com investigation reveals, that no compensation has been awarded to any of the family members from both the company Shaanxi Mining Company now Earl International and Kwasi Bantama. Currently, as we published this article, we can confidently report that some parents of these dead victims have also died as a result of hardship and struggles of life and some of these dependents are still going through difficult conditions as at now. Sadly, it appears those whose negligence put these families in their current predicaments care less about their human rights and welfare. However, engaging the Talensi District Chief Executive Mr. Thomas Duanab Wuni on the said issue regarding the family’s compensation, he said in his handing over, he hasn’t chanced any issue regarding compensation of families of the 16 dead youths. He promised to revisit in January 2023. “I have been in this office for one year and two months and in my handing over notes, I haven’t chanced any issue regarding what you are telling me. So, is difficult for me to speak to that subject. But all the same, from January when we come back from the holidays, I will take a kin interest and I will revisit what you are telling me and I would make further enquiries to see what the issue is. I hear a lot of you the press guys talking about it but, we in the Assembly here, because it wasn’t included in my handing over note, I find it difficult speaking about it. Because as I took over, there was no indication that I had an issue to follow up. But, if that is the situation, is never too late. I can always go back and look at it. So, from January 2023, I will revisit it and see what the situation is and then, we will take it from there”. The DCE told Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stepehn of Apexnewsgh.com Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Earl International Group (GH) Gold LTD to pay US$ 273,000.00 for non-compliance with Environmental Permit conditions
“Begin the construction of a designed Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) before the date of expiry of the TSF permit issued to the company. The construction must be done in line with the standard requirement and procedures as spelt out in the condition of the TSF Permit issued by the Agency”. Earl International Group (GH) Gold Limited a large-scale mining Company operating in Gbane a community in the Talensi District of the Upper East is in trouble again this time for non-compliance with EPA’s Environmental Permit Conditions. The Company has been tasked by EPA to pay an amount of Two Hundred and Seventy-Three Thousand United State Dollars (US$ 273,000.00) or its Cedi equivalent using daily selling interbank exchange rate as administrative charges for non-compliance of Environmental Permit conditions within one month from the date of the letter in line with the Fees and Charges (Amendment) Instrument, 2019 (LI 2386). Apexnewsgh.com report “Notify the Agency of the commencement of the TSF construction where a third party shall be jointly chosen by both the Agency and the company to be present throughout the entire duration of the construction stages of the designed TSF.Notify the Agency after the construction of the TSF is completed, for the Agency to carry out a thorough inspection before any material can be pumped into the facility”.“Cease the construction of any further illegal temporal tailing’s storage facility/facilities”. “Post the long overdue Reclamation Bond as security for the decommissioning and rehabilitation of disturbed areas associated with your company’s Underground Mining and Processing Project In line with Regulation 23 of the Environmental Assessment Regulation, 1999 (LI 1652). The quantum of the Bond to be posted for the Underground Mining and Processing Project is Six Hundred and Fifty-Eight Thousand and Ninety-Eight United State Dollars (US$658,098.00) as presented in the approved Environmental Impact statement of November 2020 in an Escrow Account between your company and the Agency. Twenty percent (20%) of this Bond amounting to One Hundred and Thirty-One Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty United State Dollars (US$ 131, 620) shall be paid in cash and the remaining eighty percent (80%), in Bank Guarantee.Consistently submit without fail Monthly Environmental Monitoring Returns to the Agency taking cognizance of the Akoben Criteria of Compliance, Surveillance and Control sampling points for water, air and noise. “Desist from the discharge of any water from within the enclosed premises of your operation to the external environment without prior approval from the Agency”. “Immediately begin the processes of acquiring environmental permits for all other ancillary facilities/infrastructure of your operations which are not covered by the previously issued environmental permits”. “Submit a comprehensive Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for your operation to the Agency. These were captured in the EPA’s sanction letter to Earl International Group (GH) Gold Limited dated 29th November 2022 which was intercepted by Apexnewsgh.com. The letter says, “In accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 490, 1994 and the Environmental Assessment Regulations Legislative Instrument, 1999 LI 1652, the Regional Office of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) undertook a compliance monitoring of your operations on the 11th and 15th of November 2022 at Gbane in the Talensi District”. “While the Agency was satisfied with some aspects of your Company’s compliance to conditions of the Environmental Permits (Underground Mining & Processing and Tailings Storage Facility- TSF) issued to Earl International Group (GH) Gold Limited-Gbane, the Agency was grossly dissatisfied with several other occasions of non-compliance to EPA’s Environmental Permit Conditions. Chief among them were the non-posting of Reclamation Bonds for Underground Mining and Processing and TSF, six (6) months after the issuance of EPA permits, and the illegal construction of unapproved and sub-standard temporal tailings storage facilities without the Agency’s notice, among others”. The letter pointed However, the intercepted EPA sanction letter to Earl International Group (GH) Gold Limited further cautioned the Company to comply. “As a result, the Agency is requesting Earl International Group (GH) Gold Limited-Gbane to strictly and immediately comply with the following conditions as outlined in the attachment labeled Attachment A. Failure to comply with all the conditions in Attachment A, will result in an immediate and outright suspension of operations. EPA Cautioned Meanwhile, the letter signed by the EPA Regional Director for the Executive Director was copied to the Upper East Regional Minister, the Talensi District Chief Executive, The EPA Executive Director, Director, Mining Department EPA-Accra and EPA Legal Officer, Northern Zone, Kumasi. More to come soon Source: Apexnewsgh.com/GhanaFor publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com
“It is unacceptable that the RCC takes direct responsibility from a private large-scale mining company—TAMCI
The statement said: “It is unacceptable that the RCC takes direct responsibility from a private large-scale mining company, Earl International, by paying compensation on its behalf”. “This raises serious concerns about conflict of interest. The RCC represents the State; so, being in charge of Earl International’s disbursement of cash compensation is alarming”. This is according to a press conference held in Bolgatanga by Talensi Mining Communities’ Initiative (TAMCI). Apexnewsgh.com report TAMCI, a Civil Society Organisation operating in the Talensi District in the Upper East Region, with support from Savannah Research and Advocacy Network (SRAN) has said, they are reliably informed that funds released by Earl International for the compensation exercise of Small Scale Miners were lodged in one of the RCC accounts for onward disbursement to the concessionaires and that was organized in a take-or-leave manner under the supervision of the Upper East Regional Minister. However, some members of the Unique Mining Company who were present at the press conference also narrated how an amount of USD 150, 000.00 meant to compensate them for trespasses by Shaanxi (Earl International) into their concession was fraudulently paid to one Robert Boazor Tampoare by the Regional Minister. “As we speak now some aggrieved members of the Unique Mining Company have petitioned the Economic and Organized Crime Office – EOCO about how USD 150,000.00 meant to compensate them for trespasses by Shaanxi (Earl International) into their concession was fraudulently paid to Robert Boazor Tampoare by the Regional Minister”. Meanwhile, when Apexnewsgh.com contacted Robert Boazor Tampoare for his side of the story, he said: “Those who are talking about it, the convener and what and what, whatever they know about it, they should have their time to go about it. Me, I have nothing to say about anything, whatever they know about it and how they understand it, is up to them. So, they should about what they want to do. He hanged up. The Regional Minister said he intervened because, by the time he assumed office as the Upper East Regional Minister, they were already some existing problems that needs to be resolved between the small-scale miners and Earl International. However, responding to the claim by some group members of Unique Mining Company and Talensi Mining Communities’ Initiative (TAMCI) on the role he played by giving an amount of USD 150,000.00 meant for a company to an individual, the Minister said, when he met with the group for a meeting, some of the issues raised by Robert Tampore was that, the other aggrieved members were not contributing to the company. Adding that, “Indeed, if you have a partner and he has not even contributed at all, you should let him know what is going on and that was how we felt at the meeting and we thought that whatever it is, they should have sat down and discussed it. But you see, when they took the first Ghc 150,000 and they shared no one heard anything about it and we are talking about a year and a half going to two years”. The Minister told Apexnewsgh.com. Read the full statement below: PRESS CONFERENCE BYTALENSI MINING COMMUNITIES’ INITIATIVE (TAMCI)8TH DECEMBER, 2022.WE SHALL OVERCOME! VENCEREMOSINTRODUCTION Distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the media, members of civil society organizations present and all interested parties, we wish to welcome all of you to this very important press conference. We are very grateful to you for keeping faith with us from day one to date. It’s been a journey of lessons and reflections. We set out to fight for the development of our community. As the saying goes, the enemy is always within. We have been called names, dragged to court, physically assaulted, betrayed and remanded in police custody all in a vicious and desperate attempt to silence the only voice that thunders hope and advocates for development in Talensi. But the good Lord continues to hold our right hand so we will remain resolute in our convictions, steadfast in our forward match and bold in our approach. THE GENESISWe wish to bring to your attention that gold mining in Talenteng― particularly by Shaanxi now known as Earl International Group, Cardinal, and their partners ― has brought us hell. It saddens our hearts that in Talensi, these mining companies fail to comply with relevant laws and regulations of the Mining & Minerals Act 2006 (Act 703) on compensation, resettlement, safety, local content etc. to the disadvantage of the citizens whose gold is being stolen to enrich foreign lands. It also saddens us to note that Earl International and Cardinal Resources do not respect and adhere to the laws of this country because they have help from local traditional and political authorities. The reckless mining practices introduced by Shaanxi in our area has caused many tragedies which has claimed many lives. One such tragedy was when we lost 16 young and energetic men through one of their planned executions and recklessness. Earl International also recruits supervisors who are Chinese and who cannot communicate to any team in operation in the language members of the teams understand, which is a breach of Regulation 508 of LI 2182. This deadly lapse was revealed in a Minerals Commission report as one of the reasons the 16 young men died in 2019 in Talensi. We are sure that as you take a keen interest in listening to us, you will be shocked as we reveal the development of our predicament to you. THE BLOOD OF THE 16 WHO WERE MURDERED IN EARL INTERNATIONAL MINE IN 2019 IS CRYING FOR JUSTICE – TALENSI LIVES MATTER Shaanxi/Earl International’s continuous posturing that the sixteen young men they murdered in 2019 were illegal miners, is infuriating the community and has the tendency to ignite an uprising. We are very worried as we discuss with you today that the deaths of our 16 brothers were caused by Shaanxi and the minerals commission investigative report on the incident, proves our point that Shaanxi laced explosives with a lethal chemical called
Talensi Mining Communities’ Initiative (TAMCI) demands justice for the families of 16 dead miners
Talensi Mining Communities’ Initiative (TAMCI) a Civil Society Organisation operating in the Talensi District in the Upper East Region, with the support from Savannah Research and Advocacy Network (SRAN) has organized a press conference demanding the compensation for families of the 16 young men who lost their lives as a result of the negligence caused by the Shaanxi Mining Ghana Limited now EARL International Group (Ghana) Gold Limited. Apexnewsgh.com report The statement which was read by the TAMCI Secretary Mr. Laamdolba Bright says: “We are very worried as we discuss with you today that the deaths of our 16 brothers were caused by Shaanxi and the minerals commission investigative report on the incident, proves our point that Shaanxi laced explosives with a lethal chemical called chlorine to kill the 16 young men intentionally”. The group also revealed that Kwesi Bantama has since not also compensated the families of the 16 who were killed by Shaanxi while working for him in 2019. Meanwhile, the group has hinted that Shaanxi/Earl International’s continuous posturing that the sixteen young men who lost their lives in 2019 were illegal miners, is infuriating the community and has the tendency to ignite an uprising. Read the full statement below PRESS CONFERENCE BYTALENSI MINING COMMUNITIES’ INITIATIVE (TAMCI)8TH DECEMBER, 2022.WE SHALL OVERCOME! VENCEREMOSINTRODUCTION Distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the media, members of civil society organizations present and all interested parties, we wish to welcome all of you to this very important press conference. We are very grateful to you for keeping faith with us from day one to date. It’s been a journey of lessons and reflections. We set out to fight for the development of our community. As the saying goes, the enemy is always within. We have been called names, dragged to court, physically assaulted, betrayed and remanded in police custody all in a vicious and desperate attempt to silence the only voice that thunders hope and advocates for development in Talensi. But the good Lord continues to hold our right hand so we will remain resolute in our convictions, steadfast in our forward match and bold in our approach. THE GENESISWe wish to bring to your attention that gold mining in Talenteng― particularly by Shaanxi now known as Earl International Group, Cardinal and their partners ― has brought us hell. It saddens our hearts that in Talensi, these mining companies fail to comply with relevant laws and regulations of the Mining & Minerals Act 2006 (Act 703) on compensation, resettlement, safety, local content etc. to the disadvantage of the citizens whose gold is being stollen to enrich foreign lands. It also saddens us to note that Earl International and Cardinal Resources do not respect and adhere to the laws of this country because they have help from local traditional and political authorities. The reckless mining practices introduced by Shaanxi in our area have caused many tragedies which have claimed many lives. One such tragedy was when we lost 16 young and energetic men through one of their planned executions and recklessness. Earl International also recruits supervisors who are Chinese and who cannot communicate to any team in operation in the language members of the teams understand, which is a breach of Regulation 508 of LI 2182. This deadly lapse was revealed in a Minerals Commission report as one of the reasons the 16 young men died in 2019 in Talensi. We are sure that as you take a keen interest in listening to us, you will be shocked as we reveal the development of our predicament to you. THE BLOOD OF THE 16 WHO WERE MURDERED IN EARL INTERNATIONAL MINE IN 2019 IS CRYING FOR JUSTICE – TALENSI LIVES MATTER Shaanxi/Earl International’s continuous posturing that the sixteen young men they murdered in 2019 were illegal miners, is infuriating the community and has the tendency to ignite an uprising. We are very worried as we discuss with you today that the deaths of our 16 brothers were caused by Shaanxi and the minerals commission investigative report on the incident, proves our point that Shaanxi laced explosives with a lethal chemical called chlorine to kill the 16 young men intentionally.Also, the allegation that the young men were killed in a Shaanxi mine was deliberately concocted to brand them as thieves and hence deny their families any compensation due them. Kwesi Bantama has since not also compensated the families of the 16 who were killed by Shaanxi while working for him in 2019. In just a short while, we will rise on him too. Justice must be served and we will ensure it. We hope the elite and the traditional authorities will work for the benefit of their constituents. After all they are there to protect and represent the people.At this point, we want to observe a minute silence for Miner Paul Agbango who died through electrocution at the Earl International Group mine in Talensi some days ago. LANDS & NATURAL RESOURCE MINISTRY, EPA AND MINERALS COMMISSION, THE SOURCE OF THE WOES OF GOLD MINING IN TALENSI. The Minerals Commission in the Upper East Region is not doing enough as far as their mandate to supervise and ensure that large scale mining companies adheres to the rules and regulations of Ghana as far as license acquisition, mining boundary dispute resolution, safety and precautionary measures among others are concerned. Some of the licences issued by the the Land & Natural Resource Ministry are also stained with irregularities. When the minerals commission recommended the issuance of the Earl International Gold Group large scale licence in 2019, Yenyeya, Unique and Pubortaaba and co mining licences were all active and are still active. Earlier that year Shaanxi through its recklessness and planned execution of the cream of our society (our youth) had killed sixteen young men and left their families destitute and hopeless but the Minerals Commission did not care. The environmental protection agency also granted EPA permit to Earl international group when Yenyeya, Unique, Pubortaaba and co. permits were still active.
“Is that the work of the RCC??”– Paul Danka questioned Reg. Minister Involvement between Shaanxi and Small Scale miners
John Paul Danka, One of the astute communicators of the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has questioned the involvement of Upper East Regional Minister Stephen Yakubu following the alleged One Million dollar equivalent he is said to have received to settle miners whose concessions were taken by a Mining Company initially known as Shaanxi and now Earl International. Apexnewsgh.com report According to Mr. Danka, “Another problem is the regional Minister, look at what is happening in my area. You have people who came to this republic in the name of supporting mining services called Shaanxi, fast-forward 2008 that law reviewed. Then, there is somebody holding a lease, a concession permit in that area, that Company changed itself to Earl and there is a lease given to them in the name of large-scale mining. How on earth can you give a lease upon a lease or concession upon a concession and you have that minister coming to that enclave. What is in that pot? He quizzed Mr. Danka questioned the Minister’s involvement on a local radio station Dreamzfm in the Bolgatanaga Municipality monitored by Apexnewsgh.com on Friday, October 7, 2022 “Your regional Minister took over, asking those who have issues and those who have gone to court to come out for out-of-court settlement. As we speak today, what has happened to that one? The alleged One million dollar ($1 million) equivalent that the Upper East Regional Minister is said to have received and see how he would be able to help those whose concessions have been taken, to help actually paid them off as we speak we have issues. Is that the work of the RCC?? “You have not seen anything yet, as for the time bomb in Talensi, is still hanging is just a matter of time because once we have realized that government is complicit, the youth of Talensi are not going to sit down, and allow the government because we cannot trust the NPP administration with regards to our natural resources, we cannot. Is like those who benefitted from the pot are okay, but the rest of the people who are there nobody cares about them”. “We know what galamsey has done for our people, is a matter of we making sure we let them follow the due process, let them know the parties that can help them. Most of the roofing and the good building you see hitherto were not there, most of those proceeds are from there. People have worked at galamsey in Talensi and helped their brothers and sisters go to school, and advance their education. So, if you come and you are taking that thing off and you don’t handle it well, is just a matter of time when it explodes, we will then see how the national security issue will be handled”. He laments Source: Apexnewsgh.com|Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com
UER: A lot of negotiation going on as far as mining activities are concerned—Dr. John Krugu
The National Coordinator for Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small Scale Mining Project (GLRSSMP) John Kingsley Krugu has said, there is a lot of negotiation going on as far as mining activities in the Upper East Region are concerned. Dr. Krugu confirmed this during an engagement on Apexnews Ghana’s flagship development programme dubbed “SPEAKOUT UPPER EAST REGION” with Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. He said: “The whole of the Upper East is pretty rich with resources and this is the time to make sure we got right” Asking the National Coordinator for Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small Scale Mining Project to educate us by letting us know some existing mining areas in the region, he said: “Is been mined in Talensi, is also been mined in Zongoyire at the Zongoyire concession and as well there is a mining company in Zongoyire and they have an exploration license and they are also currently busy in the area and don’t forget, there is another company that owns a concession in the Sapeliga area that shares borders with Burkina Faso. So, there is a lot that is going on”. According to him, “Some people have said that the future of gold mining is in the north and now if you looked at Talensi, there are two large-scale mining companies there, we have Earl International the former Shaanxi that was providing mining support services but now transformed into Earl International and bought the small scale and concession into a large scale. Then you have Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited and they are even building a much bigger mine and is in the area of investment of around $200 million dollars. Clearly, this is the direction of the future”. He stressed He said: “Just imagine that when Cardinal is completed and the Zongoyire exploration that is going on and they happen to get a mineral in commercial quantity and you also have a large-scale mine there, we will end up with 3 large-scale mining within the area and that alone will blow up Upper East”. He hinted “I can tell you because a large-scale mine provides several employment opportunities and also several other support businesses. This is the future” He maintained. Responding to the issue of denying indigenes access to what is due them as far as the natural resources are concerned which atimes end up putting them into abject suffering and poverty Dr. Krugu said: Of course, wherever there are mineral resources you will see people in difficulty, and having access to those resources becomes an issue and in most cases, the indigenes get impoverished instead of being blessed with those resources. “But there have been a lot of lessons learned. Sam Jonah will tell you how South Africans became beneficiaries when they became owners of the resources of the concessions and they became investors. Unfortunately, the mining sector is expensive, because you need enough resources and that is when you become a better beneficiary”. He said: “those lessons have been learned and those lessons are been put to negotiation with Earl International. You know they acquired the small-scale mining license from certain individuals in the Talensi area, we know that they pay them money, the negotiation also included equity so it was not just cash that they gave to them”. “The point is that the small-scale miners got an equity share, not just money they took home but in the future, they have a percentage share of whatever the mining company is getting. What that means is that the size of whatever the mining company gets, the bigger their shares become” “Now, those are the lessons we have learned. What it means is that the indigenes don’t get impoverished but they will continue to benefit and those kinds of negotiations are going on as I speak to you in the Zongoyire area. We are in discussion with the company that is doing the exploration because the youth there cannot wait for the exploration to be completed for them to see whether the resources are in large quantities to get investors to come and do large-scale mining”. However, just on a lighter note, Dr. Krugu acknowledged that folks are hungry and they cannot wait. “So, we are in negotiation with the mining company to say, give us a portion of the concession for community mining for the youth to find something to do and earn little income”. Source: Apexnewsgh.com|Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Talensi District: We cannot have gold and don’t have portable drinking water, good road, and facilities—Solomon TTB
The Talensi Constituency Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and a resident of Talensi Solomon TTB have registered his displeasure following the happenings in the Talensi District a place well known across the world as a land blessed with natural resources such as Gold, rosewood and Upper quarry. Speaking with Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh.com on his flagship development programme dubbed “SPEAKOUT UPPER EAST” on Monday, September 19, 2022. Mr. Solomon shared an interesting experience that many people do not know about. According to him, for most people who freely travel back home when they are visited with a heavy downpour, in the case of Talensi, is a different thing altogether because the road is very deplorable. He said: “when it rains, people from the community don’t want to return home, when it rains, it affects teachers, it affects farmers, it affects everyone including those sitting on these natural resources themselves”. “We cannot have Gold in Talensi and our road is very bad, We cannot have Gold in Talensi and our health facilities are very deplorable, We cannot have Gold in Talensi and we don’t have portable drinking water, We cannot have Gold in Talensi and youth are unemployed, we cannot have Gold in Talensi and our youth are engaging in certain social miscreants No, it is time for us to engage the mining companies we don’t have to fight with them. Fighting will never resolve the matter”. He stressed Source: Apexnewsgh.com|Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen|Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Talensi: Ghana Mines workers Union with Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited to kick start talks ahead of 2023 salaries
Ghana Mines workers Union with the Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited a large-scale mining entity operating in the Talensi district of the Upper East Region will be meeting to discuss issues regarding their 2023 salaries and some other working conditions on Thursday, September 22, 2022. Apexnewsgh.com report The branch Union Secretary of Ghana mine workers in the area Solomon Yintota made the revelation during his engagement with Apexnewsgh.com on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, following an alleged accusation of workers of the company have not been treated well by their employer Earl International. Earlier, in an engagement on Apexnewsgh.com flagship programme dubbed “SPEAKOUT UPPER EAST” Solomon TTBa resident of the area has alleged that workers are been treated unfairly by management. “I am telling you that those people are more and less like they are working by day. They are working by day because, the moment you go to work they will mark your pay for the day, but the day you did not go to work, that day they won’t mark and you won’t get anything. And there is no mining firm in this country that is doing by day unless you are a casual worker or they are engaging you to come and do construction work for them”. He said However, responding to the comment made by Solomon TTB, the branch Union Secretary Mr. Yintota, partially admitted that is true that workers of Earl International don’t receive equal payment like other workers in various mining companies. “Am aware that their salaries are more than us and that where we are all struggling to see how we can catch up and they are been paid in dollars and we are been paid in cedis. But now we have been paid in cedis converted to dollar rate. As I told you, we are going to discuss 2023 salaries in dollars and that is the only thing I think we are lacking from other mining companies. Besides that, in the mining industry, the way our safety and other thing was, we were not like other miners. But because they have moved to a large scale, safety has improved. We are not saying we are perfect like other mining companies but we are also far behind where we came from and we are better somehow now”. Mr. Yintota told Apexnewsgh.com Source: Apexnewsgh.com For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Talensi Gold: Some of us are seeking political leadership because things are not done right—Solomon TTB
The Talensi Constituency Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Solomon TTB has revealed that some of the Talensi youth are seeking political leadership today because things are not done right with the natural resources given to them by God.He made the revelation during an engagement with Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh.com on his flagship development programme dubbed “SPEAKOUT UPPER EAST” on Monday, September 19, 2022. He made the revelation during an engagement with Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh.com on his flagship development programme dubbed “SPEAKOUT UPPER EAST” on Monday, September 19, 2022. According to the Constituency Secretary, some of the youth are seeking political leadership, not because of certain things but because some of the things are not done right, “if things are done why should we be seeking political leadership?“We cannot have Gold in Talensi and our road is very bad, We cannot have Gold in Talensi and our health facilities are very deplorable, We cannot have Gold in Talensi and we don’t have portable drinking water, We cannot have Gold in Talensi and youth are unemployed, We cannot have Gold in Talensi and our youth are engaging in certain social miscreants No, it is time for us to engage the mining companies we don’t have to fight with them. Fighting will never resolve the matter”. He also blamed traditional leaders in the area for contributing to the current challenges affecting the plight of the people in the various mining communities in the Talensi district. “Traditional leaders have failed us, if you have chiefs, Tindaanas, the opinion leaders coming out together with a blueprint, a memorandum of understanding engaging the communities together, bringing the mining companies on a round table discussion to look at how employment is done, how they are procuring their things who are the people they are giving the contract to, youth that they are employing, whether they obeying the mining safety, are they giving royalties? If they are giving royalties, how do we share them? These are things traditionally we have to look at”. “We have a District Chief Executive (DCE), He is from the community, he knows the people very well, he has contact with each of the mine. And for that matter, once you are a government appointee and you are representing the people, your core mandate is to see how you will help our people to be supported. So, when the government wants to end their so-called illegal mining I would have thought that EPA, Mineral Commission, The lands and Natural Resources Minister, Regional Minister, and DCE would consider training these people on how not to cause harm to the environment and atmosphere and even how to mine without destroying our water body by way of giving them a place to mine under the community mining. Sincerely speaking, EPA and mineral Commission have disappointed Talensi and I must be frank with you. In fact, people are of the view and alleging that they come to take monies” he alleged Source: Apexnewsgh.com|Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Talensi Gold: Resident accuses Earl International Group Ghana Gold Ltd of unfair treatment against workers.
A Talensi resident and Constituency Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Solomon TTB has alleged that workers at the Shaanxi mine now Earl International Group Ghana Gold Ltd (EIGGGL) are subjected to some level of unfair treatment in line with their duty. He made the revelation during an engagement with Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh.com on their flagship development programme dubbed “SPEAKOUT UPPER EAST” on Monday, September 19, 2022. According to Mr. Solomon TTB, the government, duty bearers, stakeholders and CEO of Earl International Group Ghana Gold Ltd (EIGGGL) should as a matter of urgency organize a round table discussion because to him, “there is a lot behind what we are seeing. The workers who are at Shaanxi now Earl International, you people need to engage them, a very serious mine that is engaged in large scale mining, their salary should be of concern” He said “I am telling you that those people are more and less like they are working by day. They are working by day because, the moment you go to work they will mark your pay for the day, but the day you did not go to work, that day they won’t mark and you won’t get anything. And there is no mining firm in this country that is doing by day unless you are a casual worker or they are engaging you to come and do construction work for them”. “And if they employ you and you are asking for some days off, those days you are asking for, they will grant you alright but they won’t pay you for those days. If they grant you, you don’t have money to collect from them. If you are a professional teacher and you ask for permission from your school head and your school head grants you permission, do they write comptroller and accountant general not to pay you because you didn’t come to school? If you work with the Mineral commission and you ask for permission from your boss and it is granted does the government of Ghana refuse to pay you? Why are they allowing them to do this? These are some of the things going on there and we are not happy. They are our brothers and we want them to live a responsible life. So, they should be well compensated, they should be well paid”. He stressed “I don’t think that a diploma teacher teaching in Tola will not be paid less because he is working in a remote community. His colleague in Accra and the one at Tola receive the same salary. For example, If Newmonth Ghana gold mine is paying their PRO Ghc 20,000, a PRO in Earl International should be paid Ghc 20,000 too” he emphasized He further added, “If you went to work and there is an institutional failure at the site, they will not mark you for the day. Even though you went to work alright, they will not mark you for the day”. Mr. TTB alleged However, reacting to Solomon TTB’s position on maltreatment of workers at the Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited, the Union branch Secretary of Ghana mine workers Union Solomon Yintota refuted the claim. According to him, “In mining, we have 24 working days. We work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, and 24 days a month. But if you worked more than 24 days, they calculate them as extra days because that is your rest day you have used to work. So, within the 24 days, the rest of the 6 days are meant for you to rest whether you asked for permission or you’re on leave. So, because you are entitled to work for 24 days, you have to take off 6 days. So, if you asked for permission for 3 or 4 days, it will not affect your 24 days. Assuming my salary is Ghc 2000.00, it will be based on the 24 days”. “So, if he is saying if worker asked for permission they won’t pay him, it is not within the 24 days and every institution has rules and regulation. So, if you are not there to know this is how we do it you won’t understand”.However, Mr. Yintota agreed to the fact that the payment issue needs to be addressed “Even though we have some issues with the company we need to address especially as he was sighting example with payment of workers like PRO in some other areas that are very perfect. But in the institution we are, they started from somewhere and get to somewhere”. Mr. Yintota admits Source: Apexnewsgh.com For publication please kindly contact us on 0246336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com